It's a Frog's Life!

Uses the viewpoint of a frog to present life at a busy English pond, including the activities of other frogs, a toad, a newt, and a heron.

An accessible scrapbook look and the frog narrators conversational tone distinguish Parkers (the Creepy Creatures series) insider view of how the green amphibians stay moist, reproduce, avoid predators and find food. Text that looks hand-lettered, photos (drawings tipped as if with pseudo-photo corners) and botanical drawings of a snowdrop, a heron feather and a lily padmeant to appear as if taped to the pagescreate a varied format (though the colors and reproductions look a bit textbook-ish). One sequence of photos shows Greedy, an African bush squeaker, making a fly disappear: Hunh! I can do that tongue trick, too! scoffs the narrator. The books format and Parkers jokiness and plentiful exclamation points are a nod to Amelias Notebook, but this ones clearly for frog fans. Ages 6-10.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A first-person account of the life of a frog ``as told to'' Parker. Frog begins his journal in the spring as he wakes from five months of hibernation, and begins stretching exercises to get in shape for the long hop to the pond. Frog includes photos of himself and his offspring, colored drawings of his pond, lunch and friends, a hand-lettered text on lined journal paper, and additions such as a flowering snow drop, leaf, animal tracks, map, scraps of seaweed, a feather, and a splattered berry. Frog's observations are always in character, and often humorous; he provides drawings of things he wants to eat, listing ``slugsslow and slippery. They slide down in one swallow'' and ``beetlescrunchy on the outside, soft and tasty inside.'' From spring to fall, finding food, keeping safe from predators, finding a mate, and watching offspring grow and mature are all recorded in this journal, which closes as Frog settles down for another winter; the book ends with postcards from froggy friends around the world, and a glossary of terms. The illustrations, in various styles, are attractive and filled with details, while the text is informative enough for research, and amusing enough to read aloud. (Nonfiction. 7-12) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.